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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- This winter Washington was hit with back-to-back storms which resulted in two major Presidential disaster declarations for the severe winter storm and record and near record snow during the period of December 12, 2008 to January 5, 2009 and the severe winter storm, landslides, mudslides, and flooding during the period of January 6-16, 2009. Those declarations opened the door for the state to receive FEMA assistance through the Stafford Act, which provides recovery assistance to individuals and state, local, and tribal governments affected by a disaster.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Disaster aid for homeowners, renters, business owners, state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations affected by the severe flooding between Jan. 6 and 16, 2009 reached $17,017,439 thus far, according to officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Washington Division of Emergency Management (WA-EMD) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The following figures provided by FEMA, WA-EMD and SBA officials represent disaster aid approved through May 6, 2009:

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD) announced today that additional counties are now eligible for disaster Public Assistance to help with recovery from the severe winter storm and record and near-record snow that occurred between Dec. 12, 2008, and Jan. 5, 2009.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- As Washington residents have demonstrated throughout the storms and flooding of the past few years, they care not only for themselves, but for their neighbors, too. Now, concern for the welfare of their communities is leading individuals and faith-based and voluntary groups to work together in local Long-Term Disaster Recovery Organizations (LTROs).

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Flooding and Washington, unfortunately, seem to go hand-in-hand. Of the state's total of 43 Presidential disaster declarations, 31 have involved flooding. We don't need pictures of North Dakota to show us how devastating this can be.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Disaster officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD) announced today that federal/ state Individual Assistance funds committed for the recovery effort for flooding between Jan. 6 and 16, 2009, have topped the $12.8 million mark.
As of the March 31 deadline, a total of 3,911 Washingtonians in the 15 counties declared eligible for Individual Assistance have registered for assistance, and a steady stream of grant and loan checks is going out daily.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Time has almost run out for residents affected by the January 6-16, 2009, severe winter storm, landslides, mudslides and flooding to register for federal/state assistance. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) said that Tuesday, March 31, is the last day for homeowners, renters or businesses to register with FEMA.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington residents have received almost $11 million in federal disaster assistance since the Presidential disaster declaration was issued on January 30, 2009, to help those affected by the January 6-16, 2009 severe winter storm, landslides, mudslides and flooding. Officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Washington Emergency Management Division are reminding all Washington residents affected by that storm and weather that the deadline for disaster assistance registration is March 31.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Flood insurance, home elevation and other measures to protect homes from flooding and other bad weather are among the top concerns Washington residents are inquiring about from hazard mitigation specialists with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The specialists have been located in home improvement stores throughout the region, in communities affected by the January 6-16, severe winter storm, landslides, mudslides, and flooding. They are there to provide information to people on how to better protect homes from disasters.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The deadline to apply for disaster assistance and to complete the SBA loan packets is fast approaching. It is Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Washington residents affected by the January 6-16, 2009, winter storm, landslides, mudslides, and flooding are urged to register for assistance and to complete the loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), if one is sent to them.